sleep medications and complera

Feb 27, 2013

Do usually proscribed sleep medications have counterindications with Complera? I have asked my HIV doctor to possibly proscribe me Ambien or whatever alternate he thinks appropriate, but concerns about possible addiction prevent him from doing so. In the meantime, I've been taking over the counter sleeping pills and sometimes melatonin to no avail. I've been drinking much less frequntly than usual as I know alcohol interrupts sleeping patterns. My lack of sleep has affected my job performance-- there are no more ways for my supervisors to rearrange my job duties without disciplinary action or firing. Please help.

Response from Dr. Henry

Sleep disorders can be very challenging. Direct advertising of many prescription medications promotes their use but often the benefit is minimal/transient (when one looks at the actual studies) and can lead to dependency/addiction or other problems over the long term with the sleep problem persisting. They are also very high prices in the US =why they are advertised. Behavior interventions are in the long run often more healthful. I rely on consultation from a sleep specialist to provide guidence to help patients with sigificant sleep problems (such as yours with an impact on job performance). KH

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